Will of James Shoobridge

of Benenden, Kent

Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury 1853
Transcribed by Barbara Wilson
I James Shoobridge of the Parish of Benenden in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, do hereby revoke all former Wills, Codicils and
Testamentary Dispositions made by me at any time heretofore
and so make this my last Will and Testament.

I give and devise
unto my nephew John Shoobridge of Wadhurst in the County of
Sussex, Farmer and Jane Shoobridge the daughter of my
nephew Joseph Shoobridge and now the wife of Owen Southon
who is now living with me as Housekeeper their heirs and assigns
all that messuage in two tenements situate in Iden Green in the
said Parish of Benenden part whereof is now in the occupation of
Anne, the wife of my said nephew Joseph Shoobridge Upon the
trust thereinafter mentioned and I give and devise all that my
single messuage or tenement situate at Iden Green aforesaid and
adjoining the said messuage devised to my said Trustees Jane
Shoobridge the daughter of my said nephew Joseph Shoobridge
and now the wife of Owen Southon I also give and devise all that
my dwelling house and heriditaments situate in the village of
Benenden unto the said Jane Southon the wife of Owen Southon
aforesaid her heirs and assigns and I give and bequeath unto the
said Jane Southon the whole of my household furniture, linen,
books and china

I give and bequeath to my said nephew John
Shoobridge the sum of ten pounds and I give devise and
bequeath unto the said John Shoobridge and Jane Southon their
heirs executors administrators and assigns all the residue and
remainder of my real and personal estate upon trust hereinafter
mentioned and I direct my said Trustees John Shoobridge and
Jane Southon their heirs executors administrators and assigns to
stand possessed of my said real and personal estates upon the
following trusts that is to say upon trust to pay the following
legacies that is to say
to pay to my brother Oak Shoobridge the
sum of three hundred pounds together with all my wearing
apparel should he be living at the time of my decease
To pay to my nephew Edward Shoobridge the son of my said brother
Oak Shoobridge should he be living at the time of my decease
the sum of one hundred pounds
To pay to my nephew and two nieces following mentioned John
Merrion , Mary Smith the wife of …… Smith and to Sarah White
the wife of John White the sum of one hundred pounds each to
such of them the said John Merrion, Mary Smith and Sarah White
as may be living at the time of my decease
Also to pay to John Campany, George Campany and Sarah Campany the sum
of fifty pounds each to such of them (the said John Campany
George Campany and Sarah Campany) as are living at the time
of my decease
and to pay to George Shoobridge, James
Shoobridge and Ann Shoobridge children of my nephew Joseph
Shoobridge the sum of sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and
four pence to each of them (the said George Shoobridge, James
Shoobridge and Ann Shoobridge as are living at the time of my
decease
and subject to the payment of all the said annuities
and legacies to transfer and secure the residue unto the said
Jane Southon the wife of the said Owen Southon that she the
daughter of my nephew Joseph Shoobridge may have the
interest and rents received from this my property the said interest
and rents to be paid into her own hands (and the same not be in
the least subject to the control of her husband) during the term of
her natural life and should she die before her said husband Owen
Southon the interest which his wife has in this my property named
in this my will shall be continued to him the said Owen Southon
her husband during the term of his natural life and should the said
Jane Southon have children by her present or any future husband
the aforesaid property is to descend to such children and not to the
children of the present husband Should he marry hereafter and
leave children by such second or any other marriage he may
enter into and also should my niece the wife of Owen Southon
survive her present husband and she should marry again the
interest of this my property is not to be continued
to such second husband or any other husband whom she may
marry that is to say after her death But the property herein given
to the said Jane Southon the wife of Owen Southon upon her
dying without issue after the death of her husband shall be
equally divided between my brother Oak Shoebridge’s children
and the children of my sister? their heirs or assigns.

I devise that the legacies given in this my will to the aforementioned Oak
Shoebridge the said Edward Shoobridge the said John Merrion
Mary Smith Sarah White John Campany George Campany Sarah
Campany George Shoebridge James Shoebridge and to Ann
Shoobridge to upon the death of either of them taking place
before my decease that the share of each of such legatees who shall die before
my decease shall be transferred and secured with
the residue unto the said Jane Southon the wife of Owen Southon
the daughter of my nephew Joseph Shoobridge that she may also
have the interest and rents of this my property paid into her own
hands as is mentioned before and the same to it continues to her
present husband during the term of his natural life

I also request that the portion of money given in this my will to George
Shoobridge as he is now abroad in the Army be secured by the
executors so that should he return to England he may receive the
same. The interest of this legacy of George Shoobridge to be
paid into the hands of the aforesaid Jane Southon wife of Owen
Southon during the absence of the said George Shoobridge the
said George Shoobridge to have no claim of the interest for the
time he may be abroad and I appoint the said John Shoobridge
and Jane Southon Executor and Executrix of this may will In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty first day
of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and fifty one – James Shoobridge – signed published and declared by
the said James Shoobridge the Testator as and for this last will
and testament in the presence of us who being present at the
same time have at his request in his presence and in the
presence of each other subscribed our names as witness hereto Benjamin Southon Butcher Benenden – Stephen Davis Walker?
Schoolmaster Benenden.

Proved at London the 14th July 1853 before the Worshipful
Thomas Spinks Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of John
Shoobridge, the nephew the surviving executor to whom admon
was granted having been first sworn duly to administer